Explainer Three ways Democrats could cut off Trump’s Iran war funding With fewer than 20 days on the Senate’s legislative calendar before Democrats take the majority in January, Republicans face an uphill battle to rush funding to the Pentagon ahead of the new Congress. Iran
Analysis As Mossad chief visits US, fears grow Netanyahu could strike Iran to block Eisenkot Israel's opposition leaders fear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could exploit the transition period to reignite the Iran conflict, thereby delaying or even preventing the formation of a new government. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Iran’s IRGC claims attack on US target in Bahrain: What to know The US military denied that Iran had targeted an early-warning system in Bahrain, saying its forces shot down two Iranian drones headed toward the Gulf island. Iran
Eisenkot meets Netanyahu in bid to avoid Iran strikes Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a security briefing amid opposition concerns that the government could launch a military operation against Iran. Israel
Rubio rejects Iran reparation demand as Trump touts deal momentum By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Pentagon blames Turkey for strikes near US troops in Syria The Pentagon held Turkey responsible for shelling American units in the Syrian city of Kobani on Friday, in spite of denials from Ankara. Turkey
How does Washington see Russia's Gulf security concept? Washington ignores Moscow's initiative for the Gulf security architecture and there are some good reasons why. Legacy: Gulf
How will US troop withdrawal from northern Syria affect Iraq? The US troop withdrawal from northeastern Syria could lead to catastrophic consequences for Syrian Kurds while strengthening the Islamic State and destabilizing Iraq. Iraq
Syrians brace as Turkey begins operation against Kurds After the United States withdrew troops from the Syrian-Turkish border this week, Turkey pulled the trigger on its offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. Syria
Erdogan’s friendship with Trump has extra benefits The friendship between the Turkish and American presidents thrives despite all ideological differences, so much so that elites of Turkey's ruling party view the impeachment inquiry as an act of the "deep state" or even a "coup" against Trump. Syria
Confusion reigns as Trump authorizes troop withdrawal from Turkish-Syrian border towns US President Donald Trump's announcement catches Pentagon, State Department and Syrian Kurds off guard as Turkey assumes a primacy of sorts in the president's thinking despite the S-400 fiasco. Syria
Trump allies in Congress assail decision to let Turkey attack Syrian Kurds Lawmakers and presidential candidates are lambasting President Donald Trump for greenlighting Turkey’s offensive against Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria. Syria
Pentagon pushes back on Turkish incursion in Syria The Pentagon opposed the Donald Trump administration’s decision to allow a Turkish operation in Syria, a senior administration official told Al-Monitor. Syria
Turkish incursion threatens to unleash Islamic State in Syria, US officials warn The Donald Trump administration’s decision Sunday to allow a Turkish incursion into northeast Syria threatens to let loose thousands of Islamic State prisoners onto the battlefield, US officials are warning. Syria
Have Iran, US slammed door on nuclear negotiations? Iran and the United States both have upcoming elections and other urgent domestic issues to focus on, and neither seems interested in cooperating on nuclear talks. United States
Erdogan's Syria plan: Resettling the Syrian refugees or ousting Kurds from their land? Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks in United Nations indicate that Turkey has dangerous intentions about the east of Euphrates. Syria
